Trump-linked song plays at US Olympic hockey opener

February 8, 2026 Oliver Obel

Just before puck drop at the Milano Rho Ice Hockey Arena, the venue’s DJ played a techno remix of the Village People’s “YMCA”. No national anthems were played before the preliminary-round match between the United States and the Czech Republic, which the US went on to win 5–1.

As The Guardian reported, the song has become closely associated with Donald Trump after featuring heavily at his campaign rallies, often accompanied by his onstage dance. The Village People later performed the track for Trump at the 2026 World Cup draw in December, reinforcing its political connotations for many listeners.

Protests shape the wider backdrop

The timing of the song choice drew attention given the mood in Milan this week. Protests have taken place across the city targeting US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), following the killings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good in Minneapolis by agents.

Demonstrators have linked those deaths to ICE’s broader role at international events, including the Olympics, adding to the political sensitivity surrounding the US presence at the Games.

Senior US officials in attendance

Against that backdrop, the US hockey opener drew an unusually high-profile political audience. Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio attended the game alongside second lady Usha Vance and US ambassador to Italy Tilman Fertitta, who also owns the NBA’s Houston Rockets. The group was accompanied by a visible security presence inside the arena.

Vance remained for the full match and later celebrated the result with his family. Earlier in the day, he met members of the US freestyle skiing team.

Addressing athletes, he said: “The whole country – Democrat, Republican, Independent – we’re all rooting for you. We’re cheering for you, and we know you’re going to make us proud.”

Opening ceremony concerns

The episode has added to questions about how American athletes may be received during the opening ceremony, scheduled for Friday at Milan’s San Siro stadium. The United States is sending 237 athletes to compete across 16 sports at the Games.

Milan mayor Beppe Sala has been among the most outspoken critics of ICE, describing the agency as “a militia that kills”.

Asked about the possibility of US competitors being booed, International Olympic Committee president Kirsty Coventry urged spectators to separate sport from politics.

“I hope that the opening ceremony is seen by everyone as an opportunity to be respectful,” Coventry said, according to The Independent. She added that the Olympics should remain “a place where every athlete can compete freely, without being held back by the politics or divisions of their governments”.

Coventry, a former Olympian, said recent visits to the athletes’ village had reinforced that ideal, pointing to the ease with which competitors from different countries mix away from public attention.

Sources: The Guardian, The Independent